TATTON MP George Osborne has been out on the front line to visit troops in Afghanistan.

The Shadow Chancellor told the Express he had taken the unusual step of visiting military bases in the conflict zone to tell the forces how much the country appreciated their ‘enormous courage and bravery’.

During the two day trip with the shadow foreign secretary William Hague, on January 7 and 8, he visited Helmand Province.

Their tour included an overnight stay at the air base at Kandahar, a visit to the interim Helmand police training centre in Lashkar Gah.

Mr Osborne said: "We went out in the patrol vehicles and spoke to the soldiers. We wanted to make it clear to them that whatever people’s views of the war is, we all absolutely support what they are doing. I also wanted to see for myself the awe inspiring work our soldiers are doing and see the amazing courage of the young men and women and talk to them about it. When you watch them on television it is easy for people to forget just how difficult a job they are doing. It really hit home when one soldier told me that with every step they take they are conscious that it could be their last as they are constantly put at risk of being severely wounded or killed in an explosion."

After visiting the interim Helmand police training centre they flew to Task Force Helmand HQ in Lashkar Gah and went on to pay a visit to a forward operating base patrol to meet the Coldstream Guards.

They also received briefings from regional commanders and joined service personnel for meals.